What are ethics?

"Ethics are conceptual tools used to evaluate situations and guide decision making from a moral perspective" (Simpson, 2005)

The Hippocratic Oath has been the starting point of evaluating the obligations of physicians to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.

"What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account must be spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about" (as cited in Rothstein, 2010)

As physicians are essential users of EHRs, we thought it relevant to include the concept of the Hippocratic Oath and the challenges EHRs may present regarding privacy and confidentiality.